Educator Advisory Group on Curriculum & Instruction

Purpose
Cambridge Public Schools (CPS) and the Cambridge Education Association (CEA) recognize that educator input is vital to making informed decisions related to curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development. Educators play an active role in curriculum design and review teams and lead many professional development courses for their colleagues. This group is advisory to the Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum & Instruction for the purposes of looking at the system as a whole and providing input as part of the Assistant Superintendent’s entry and strategic planning process.

Basis for Establishment
The Educator Advisory Group on Curriculum & Instruction is comprised of educator representatives from each education level (elementary, upper and high), from general and special education, and includes classroom teachers, specialists, and coaches. Members of the group will be decided by the assistant superintendent for curriculum & instruction and the president of the CEA. The group members will:

bring to the assistant superintendent's attention existing and emerging curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development issues expressed by educators in the school, level, or department they represent;

collectively identify common needs and goals to help inform decision-making;

facilitate communication between educators from different schools, levels, and departments; and

serve as an advisory, not a decision-making body, that makes recommendations for opportunities for educator voice in curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional development planning.

Plan of Work and Decision-Making Process
The advisory group holds regular meetings to review curriculum, instruction, assessment and professional learning practices and examine questions such as:

How do we enhance our curriculum in a way that is sustainable for educators?

How do we support growth in instructional practice for educators?

How do we develop a balanced assessment system that serves the needs of educators and students, as well as families and administrators?

How can professional development be designed and delivered to support the above?

Work to DateSince convening in the spring of 2017, the advisory group has helped craft the vision for the Office of Curriculum & Instruction and our district’s definitions of “rigorous, joyful, culturally responsive learning,” generated reflective questions for supporting our work to expand “rigorous, joyful, culturally responsive learning experiences for all students,” and provided feedback on new initiatives and ongoing work at the district and department level from the school-based perspective.

Meeting Dates: The advisory group meets four times a year afterschool (3:30-5PM) on dates to be determined.